Friars Look to Sweep Cincy without X (and Possibly McDermott?)

Even though the Friars beat Cincinnati on their own court almost two weeks ago, this could be a much different game on Monday night when the Bearcats head to THE DUNK. Jeff Xavier is most likely not playing (no word on his injury status yet), and the extent of Geoff McDermott’s hamstring is still up in the air. Without those two players, the Friars will be incredibly shorthanded, and just get destroyed on the boards – Cincinnati is already one of the best rebounding teams in the nation.

Plus, Providence is coming off a really tough loss only two days ago.

I guess we will see what kind of team they really are, as PC will have to dig really deep to pull off a victory on their own home court against one of the lesser teams in the conference.

It will mark the fi fth meeting ever between the two teams. Providence has posted a 3-1 mark all-time against Cincinnati. In the first meeting between the Friars and the Bearcats, Cincinnati earned a 66-64 home win on February 17, 2006 in Cincinnati. This season,Providence defeated the Bearcats, 87-79, on January 7 at Cincinnati. In the only meeting ever at Providence, the Friars earned a 71-70 win on February 6, 2007.

Jeff Xavier’s status for PC’s game against Cincinnati is unclear but it is doubtful he’ll be able to play. He did not return to the game Saturday and his eye “was completely closed in the locker room,’’ according to Davis.

The Friars were widely believed to be a Big East team that UC could beat, so when the Bearcats lost to them at home 12 days ago, it raised a lot of eyebrows about just how good – or bad – this UC team might be

The Cincinnati Bearcats invade the Dunkin’ Donuts Center this evening, for a Big East clash with the Providence Friars. Since dropping their first three league affairs, including an 87-79 loss to this same Providence team on January 7th, the Bearcats have begun to climb out of their league hole, winning two straight games, including a 59-55 defensive struggle at DePaul on Saturday. The Friars have had a complete opposite run in the Big East thus far, winning their first three conference tilts, only to lose their last two, including a 91-82 decision against Marquette this past weekend. With the win just 12 days ago, Providence has now won three of the previous four meetings with Cincinnati.